Their self-titled debut album"The National" (Brassland 2001) was recorded and released before they had played even a single show. They cut the album with engineer Nick Lloyd and formed a label with writer Alec Bemis, so those recordings could be released. Kerrang! magazine gave it four Ks, calling it "the stuff underground legends are made of."
The National made a second album, "Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers" (Brassland/Talitres 2003). The staff was the same, though Peter Katis, who produced "Turn on The Bright Lights" and "Antics" by Interpol, helped produce and mix, and Australian composer Padma Newsome from Clogs collaborated on arrangements and strings.
Following the first session of several for Bernard Lenoir on France's Radio Inter, an in-between EP was released, Cherry Tree, containing what would become the blueprint for the sound on their next record and the session of Sad Song's standout Murder Me Rachael. After these accolades and being impressed by their live show, Roger Trust signed them to Beggars Banquet.
A show at their favorite bar became a van ride to neighboring cities, became a plane ride to Europe, became two summers overseas. Their ties to those good jobs slackened. And they continue on their own path, moving out even further out in Brooklyn to Ditmas Park, where there is space and familiar suburban streets and even Geese on Beverly Road. Their album, "Alligator", much of which was recorded at their homes in Ditmas Park, was engineered by Paul Mahajan, who has worked with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and TV on the Radio. Padma Newsome camped out for a month with the band, and Peter Katis added more production and mixed the record at his house in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Berninger's potent baritone still intones about matters fraught and funny and sad; about record collections, missing persons and medium-sized American hearts. But the record's not simply gothic or miserablist -- more like the plays of Tennessee Williams, it's full of peculiar intimacies and awkward grace. Alligator's heroes are reckless and possessed seducers, but they are apologetic ones. In The National's imaginings, in songs alternately lush and spare, there is something twighlit and dreamy worked out in the basement of our brains.
"Abel," "Secret Meeting," and "Lit Up" were released as singles.
On May 22, 2007, The National released their follow-up to Alligator, Boxer, on Beggars Banquet. Taking advantage of the fact that nobody had heard their first album and earliest demos, Matt proceeded to steal lyrics and melodies from them and give them the attention they deserved while keeping the intimacy that made them special. They even managed to convince new friend Sufjan Stevens to lay down some piano tracks for them, and recorded the album in a scant 6 months after coming off the long post-Alligator road.
"Mistaken for Strangers", "Fake Empire" and "Apartment Story" have been released as singles. The band have just finished touring North America and are on a large European autumn/winter tour after playing high slots at several large festivals. In their Dec. 07/Jan. 08 issue, Paste magazine named Boxer best record of 2007.
The band's fifth album, High Violet, was released on May 10, 2010 by 4AD Records. "Bloodbuzz Ohio", "Anyone's Ghost" and "Terrible Love" were released as singles.
In 2013 their sixth studio record Trouble Will Find Me was released and named "Best New Music" by Pitchfork. The album contained the single "I Need My Girl". In 2015, the album outtake "Sunshine On My Back" was released.
Four years after Trouble Will Find Me, marking the longest timespan between albums in their career so far, they released their seventh album Sleep Well Beast on September 8th, 2017 and were yet again met with great critical success.
The National homepage: http://www.americanmary.com/
The National blog http://tntl.tumblr.com
The National on Twitter http://twitter.com/TheNational
The National on Instagram http://instagram.com/TheNational
Brassland homepage: http://brassland.org/
Beggars Banquet homepage: http://www.beggars.com/
You’ve Done It Again Virginia
The National Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess mamma's boys only go so far
You went in and put a record on
To make it sound like someone was home
And thanked yourself for pouring yourself a drink
Try to figure out and laugh yourself to the showers
Burn yourself alive and join the monster squad
Well you've done it again, Virginia
Made another masterpiece while I was dreaming
How does it feel to feel like you?
Brilliant sugar, brilliant sugar, brilliant sugar, turn over
A cool, tall, drink of water
is all you ever wanted to be
And if you had another wish to wish
you'd be fun and moving
But you can't talk to people, right?
You can't tell a story
You're tall, long legged
and your heart's full of liquor
And me and everybody are just ice in a glass
Try to figure out and laugh yourself to the showers
Burn yourself alive and join the monster squad
They say in this place you can reinvent yourself
Well you've done it again, Virginia
Made another masterpiece while I was dreaming
How does it feel to feel like you?
Brilliant sugar, brilliant sugar, brilliant sugar, turn over
The National’s song, “You’ve Done It Again Virginia” is a composition that covers the theme of fantasy and self-misrepresentation. The lyrics explore the idea of reinventing oneself and living in a world of one’s fantasies. The singer in the song starts by describing a situation where a woman enjoys fun but ends up remaining in the car with a man even after the party was over. He states that this scenario shows that “mama's boys” have limits. Later, the woman goes inside and puts music to create the impression that someone is at home while she pours a drink, thinking highly of herself. The chorus has the singer commending her for creating yet another masterpiece while he was asleep and asking her how it feels to be brilliant.
The following verses then zoom out to explore how the woman’s life could have been. The song portrays her as someone who always wished to be the embodiment of coolness and fun. However, the woman is still isolated from people, and despite her beauty, her heart is full of alcohol. The song concludes by repeating the chorus while the verses describe the idea of burning oneself to become a “monster squad,” and yet this new place allows people to reinvent themselves. This conclusion reaffirms the idea of people living in their imaginations.
Line by Line Meaning
You had fun, but you couldn't get him out of the car
Even though you enjoyed your time with this person, you weren't able to get him to come inside with you.
I guess mamma's boys only go so far
You came to the realization that men who are overly attached to their mothers are limited in their capacity for fun and adventure.
You went in and put a record on
You tried to create the illusion that someone was already home by playing music upon entering the house.
To make it sound like someone was home
You hoped that by playing music, anyone outside would believe there was someone inside the house.
And thanked yourself for pouring yourself a drink
You took a moment to pat yourself on the back for making yourself a drink after entering the empty house.
Try to figure out and laugh yourself to the showers
You attempted to make sense of everything that happened and laughed at yourself before heading to the shower.
Burn yourself alive and join the monster squad
You were willing to take risks and bear the consequences, even if it meant becoming part of a group of people considered to be dangerous or out of the ordinary.
They say in this place you can reinvent yourself
This location is known to facilitate a transformative experience where one can change and redefine themselves.
Well you've done it again, Virginia
You managed to create something amazing once again, Virginia.
Made another masterpiece while I was dreaming
You were able to create a remarkable work of art while others were sleeping or unable to do so.
How does it feel to feel like you?
You were curious what it's like to be in your own skin, to feel like yourself.
Brilliant sugar, brilliant sugar, brilliant sugar, turn over
This is likely a reference to putting a record on the other side, with 'sugar' being a term of endearment for someone close to you.
A cool, tall, drink of water
You aspire to be someone who is refreshing and sought after, like a tall glass of water on a hot day.
is all you ever wanted to be
Your greatest ambition is to become that refreshing, sought-after presence.
And if you had another wish to wish
After achieving your greatest wish, you have no idea what else you would hope for.
You'd be fun and moving
If you could have a second dream, it would be to be exciting and on the go.
But you can't talk to people, right?
Your shyness or social anxiety may inhibit you from speaking to others freely.
You can't tell a story
You feel as though you have nothing interesting to say, or lack the skills to effectively convey a narrative.
You're tall, long legged
You have a tall, slender physical appearance.
and your heart's full of liquor
You've been imbibing and your emotions are heightened because of the alcohol.
And me and everybody are just ice in a glass
You feel like everyone in your life is just a temporary, fleeting presence, like ice cubes floating in a drink.
Well you've done it again, Virginia
You've blown everyone away yet again, Virginia.
Made another masterpiece while I was dreaming
You continued to create impressive things while others are unconscious or unable to make great works.
How does it feel to feel like you?
You're still wondering what it's like to experience the world in your unique way.
Brilliant sugar, brilliant sugar, brilliant sugar, turn over
This refrain may signal the end of the song, or it may be a continuation of the earlier idea of flipping a record over to play the other side.
Contributed by Jasmine O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Criicket317
You had fun but you couldn't get him out of the car
I guess mama's boys only go so far
You went in and put a record on
To make it sound like someone was home
And thanked yourself
for pouring yourself a drink
You try to figure out and laugh yourself to the showers
Burn yourself alive and join the monster squad
They say in this place you can reinvent yourself
Well, you've done it again, Virginia
Made another masterpiece while I was dreaming
How does it feel to feel like you?
Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, turn over
A cool, tall, drink of water is all you ever wanted to be
You had another wish to wish you'd be fun and moving
But you can't talk to people, right? You can't tell a story
You're tall, you're long legged and your heart's full of liquor
Me and everybody are just ice in a glass
Try to figure out and laugh yourself to the showers
Burn yourself alive and join the monster squad
They say in this place you can reinvent yourself
Well, you've done it again, Virginia
Made another masterpiece while I was dreaming
How does it feel to feel like you?
Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, turn over
Well, you've done it again, Virginia
Made another masterpiece while I was dreaming
How does it feel to feel like you?
Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, turn over
Dana Conrad
This is actually the version I prefer, and definitely one of my favorite songs
KxK96
I bought this album yesterday, like i saw it in my music store and I almost had a heart attack :D then I looked at the price and it was kinda expensive :l but my dad said: ´´ Hey, Money is meant to spend boi, if you really like it, buy it ´´ and i was like OH WHAT THE HELL :D. 1 hour later I was crying at home while listening to it by the magnificence of the songs. It was worth the price.
Francisco Sousa
I don't know why, but it's doing me so happy. I can see clearly that something awesome behind this it's gonna happen.
Joan Smith
This is so beautiful!!
Criicket317
You had fun but you couldn't get him out of the car
I guess mama's boys only go so far
You went in and put a record on
To make it sound like someone was home
And thanked yourself
for pouring yourself a drink
You try to figure out and laugh yourself to the showers
Burn yourself alive and join the monster squad
They say in this place you can reinvent yourself
Well, you've done it again, Virginia
Made another masterpiece while I was dreaming
How does it feel to feel like you?
Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, turn over
A cool, tall, drink of water is all you ever wanted to be
You had another wish to wish you'd be fun and moving
But you can't talk to people, right? You can't tell a story
You're tall, you're long legged and your heart's full of liquor
Me and everybody are just ice in a glass
Try to figure out and laugh yourself to the showers
Burn yourself alive and join the monster squad
They say in this place you can reinvent yourself
Well, you've done it again, Virginia
Made another masterpiece while I was dreaming
How does it feel to feel like you?
Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, turn over
Well, you've done it again, Virginia
Made another masterpiece while I was dreaming
How does it feel to feel like you?
Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, Brilliant sugar, turn over
Tulio Pires Bragança
ultimate classic
Pat
i love this ep
zen sunraw
a cool tall drink of water, is all you ever wanted to be
M A
zen sunraw I really love this line , the following line is great as well. It really speaks to me
BlackHatZack
@kmacmuzikmafia27 In one of the segments from the recent making-of/performance series, when they did a bunch of new songs off High Violet at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Matt talks about the "impressionistic" quality of their lyrics and singing, and how it's kind of more engaging when one mishears the lyrics, as it allows one to project themselves into the music. ;)